Birgit's book, "The Rescue of Belle and Sundance - A Miracle on Mount Renshaw" (written together with Lawrence Scanlan and published by HarperCollins Canada) is now available as both hardcover and paperback.

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Books are for sale at the McBride Trading Co. and Odds and Ends in McBride, the Dunster Store in Dunster, The Gathering Tree in Valemount, and Infinity Office and Health in Valemount. People living outside the Robson Valley can order the book online through Chapters or Amazon or inquire at their local bookstore. If you would like a signed copy, please contact Birgit directly.

The American version of "The Rescue of Belle and Sundance - One Town's Incredible Race To Save Two Abandoned Horses" (published by Da Capo Press/Perseus Books Group) is now available as hardcover.

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Please click on links below for more info on "The Rescue of Belle and Sundance":

Edmonton lawyer Frank Mackay pled guilty today in McBride Provincial Court to causing or permitting an animal to be or continue to be in distress under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. On a joint submission, he received a $1,000 fine, a $150 victim fine surcharge, has to pay restitution to the B.C. SPCA in the amount of $5,910.16, received a prohibition against possessing any animals for two years (in B.C. only), a probation order for the period of 12 months, and a counselling term because of his behaviour. He further has to deliver a copy of his probation order to the nearest SPCA in Edmonton and to the provincial SPCA office in Alberta so that the authorities are alerted, and purchase advertisement in two issues of the local paper in order to publish his statement which was read in court today. The proceedings on the two criminal code offences were stayed (causing unnecessary pain and suffering to an animal and cruelty to animals).
In his statement, Mackay said: "I wish to thank the rescuers who volunteered their time and effort to rescue the horses. ... If it hadn't been for the accident, I would have gladly participated in the rescue."
Court also heard that this was the first time Mackay has been in the backcountry by himself.

The two abandoned horses have found new forever homes. Sundance will be going to a family in Kamloops and Belle is staying in Prince George. It is unfortunate that they can't stay together after all they went through, but hopefully they will go to loving families.

Charges under both the Criminal Code of Canada and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act have been submitted to Crown Counsel in Prince George on Jan. 22.
On another note, the "owner" of the horses
has not filed an injunction, so the two horses now legally belong to the B.C. SPCA.

Some people have been wondering about Belle's coat, and the SPCA in Prince George confirmed today that her coat has started to grow back in and that she should have a beautiful coat once again. This, of course, is going to take some time.

January 19, 2009, 6 pm

Great news!
I just talked to the chief animal protection officer of the B.C. SPCA, and he said that he faxed a letter to Frank MacKay , the "owner" of the rescued horses, this afternoon, advising him that the SPCA WILL NOT be returning the horses to him.
MacKay does have the ability to file an injunction, meaning if he wishes to dispute it, he is going to have to go to a court.
With regards to charges, the SPCA is waiting for an RCMP statement from MacKay before they forward the package to the Crown. So this should happen within the next few days. The SPCA is expecting to forward charges under both the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and under the Canada Criminal Code.

This update is from Debbie Goodine with the SPCA in Prince George:
The horses are doing well and they did receive the supplements. It is difficult to say how quickly the horses will come up. Winter time tends to be a harder time to put weight back on horses depending on how mild or cold the weather is. Some horses can put a score on in a month, others may take a few months per score. The vet does not believe there to be any other problems associated to the horses poor body condition. Again it may be a bit early to tell, but they have excellent appetites and are quite spunky and social with their neighbours. The feed schedule is hay based and has been increased weekly, and a small amount of grain has been introduced. I feel it will be another six weeks or so before we see marked improvement on their health. They have not been back to the vets as they are doing well, likley they will return for a check up in about a month, unless something comes up. Wish I had more to share, slow and steady wins the race.

The horses that were rescued from the
mountainous
Renshaw area near McBride, B.C. , just before Christmas are recovering on a foster farm in Prince George under the SPCA's care and custody. They are doing reasonably well, considering the circumstances, but still have a long ways to recovery. They have been assigned a body score of two on the Henneke Body Condition Score System, with 1 being the lowest and nine being the highest, and 5 being a good average. They have recently received a thorough vet check, have had their feet trimmed and their teeth floated. They will also be dewormed in a couple of weeks, so as not to overload their systems.